Respect rule of law, ED urges Zimbabweans

Cape Town (New Ziana)-Even though Zimbabwe has one of the most democratic constitutions in the region, it is important for citizens to respect the rule of law, President Emmerson Mnangagwa said on Thursday.

Responding to questions during a panel discussion at the World Economic Forum on Africa, on how Zimbabwe handles protestors, President Mnangagwa said Zimbabweans must obey the country’s laws on public order and security.

“We have one of the best constitutions in the region, I think, which is very democratic and we respect it. However, the rule of law must be obeyed; the rule of law must take root in our country.

“Not everybody observes that, but I have no doubt that as we move on we shall continue to improve and deepen our democracy,” he said.

He said his government recognises the need to observe human rights.

Zimbabwe has been criticised by the European Union and other western embassies on the way its police handled opposition demonstrations held last month.

Curiously, the criticism by the EU and western embassies was in spite of the fact the demonstrations were illegal in the first place.

Turning to what the African continent could do, to develop in the face of changing technology; President Mnangagwa said Zimbabwe needed different ingredients to rebuild its ‘collapsed’ economy.

“My country is in a different situation than you think. It has a collapsed economy; none of my friends have collapsed economies. We have a collapsed currency; none of my colleagues have experienced a collapsed currency.
“So we are building and reconstructing that collapsed economy. And to do so, we have to interrogate what we need to do, what resources are at our disposal to reconstruct our economy under sanctions,” he said.

President Mnangagwa said youths must be involved in conversations to do with economic growth.

“Going forward, it is my view that we need to give more attention to intra- trade, inter development in Africa before we look outside. Once we have done that, I believe we will have done our best to average our economies in terms of development.

“But to do so, it is necessary that our institutions of learning should have innovation hubs, so that the young people can exhibit their talent and then we adapt to technologies in that manner,” he said.

New Ziana